God's Glory Church

“With all humility and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” — Ephesians 4:2

One morning I was sitting in my chair. My youngest daughter came down to me from the upper floor and immediately jumped into my lap. I dove into her in a paternal way and kissed her on the head. She was satisfied. But then she frowned and looked at my cup of coffee unkindly. “Dad,” the daughter solemnly announced, “I love you, but I don’t like the way you smell.”

My daughter said this with complete sincerity. She didn’t want to hurt my feelings, but she felt compelled to say something to me. Sometimes we should do the same in our relationships.

In the 4th chapter of the Epistle to the Ephesians, the apostle Paul tells us how we should treat each other, especially when necessary to tell the unpleasant truth. “With all humility and meekness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love” (v. 2). Humility, meekness and patience should serve as the foundation in our relationships. Cultivating these character traits will help us to be “truthful in love” (v. 15) and to speak only “what is good for edification” (v. 29).

No one likes to hear about their weaknesses and shortcomings. However, if we begin to “smell” unpleasantly, God can prompt faithful friends to tell us the truth with grace, humility and meekness.

When did someone gently rebuke you? If you lovingly point out their weaknesses to others, what is the most important part of it?

Heavenly Father, help me humbly accept correction and give it to others with love, grace, and gentleness.

Author: Adam Holtz